~~*Before we begin this chapter, I'd like to ask for reviews. I'm the one who types up the chapters(The Fox) while Kitty(The Cat) gives ideas and positive support as well as makes the fancy artwork and posts this. We would really really appreciate if you guys could review our story. But please don't be too mean. Constructive criticism is very much liked and we would like to improve on anything that needs improving on. Please and thank you~! We hope you enjoy this chapter*~~


Morning came more slowly than the night had. Suiren was just sitting in her bed, waiting for the sun to come up. She had a feeling that today was definitely not something she was looking forward to if things were going to go at a snail's pace. She stretched a little before getting up from her bed. Maybe she could at least find something fun to do. She hadn't heard anything about Rukia's execution date being made sooner than expected. So she was off in her own little happy world. She walked to Kuromi's room, the little name sign still hanging from the door. "Kuromi, lets go get some food today-Kuromi?" The woman looked around the room, not seeing the fox girl in there at all. She tilted her head before scratching it. Strange, why would she still be out? As far as she heard, her friend didn't do anything wrong and didn't get arrested for anything. So why wasn't she resting? She walked inside, looking for anything that could point to where she might be. But all there was was clutter on the ground and a few personal notes. Most of them were just words of praise to herself. Telling her not to give up or not to be scared. For some reason, it made her sad to just look at them. They all seemed to try to be a different writing style, obviously trying to convince herself that other people wrote them. Just how lonely was she?

Kuromi was hiding herself away in a nearby alley way. She held her head as she thought about what she heard and whimpered as more memories made themselves clear. She wasn't a test tube baby, she was an actual girl before. No ears. No tail. She was normal. But then Aizen came along...he took her in. She let out a small hic and held her head tighter. That man seemed to always be the reason everyone was at each others throats. Her hands shook a bit as she tried to make sense of all this. Just why they were plotting against everyone and making everyone hate each other. 'What did I tell you about crying?' She heard a voice before looking at her zanpakutou. A few tears slipped down her face before she tried to wipe them away. "I-It makes me look weak...that's what you said." She hicced again and sniffled. 'That's right. Kuromi, I didn't show myself to you so you can grovel and cry.' A large, two-tailed fox appeared in front of her. He was completely white except for the dark blue markings around his torso and tails. They were in the same design as her cheek paint was. She wiped her eyes again and looked at him. 'If you want to know why he lied to you and is attacking the Seireitei with Aizen, then you need to confront him about it. Don't just cry about it!' His voice was deep and dark, but his golden eyes had a sort of comforting factor to them. The young woman nodded and seemed to understand. 'Don't just nod! Tell me you'll do it. You know for a fact I am here to give you a hand when and if you need it.' He sounded like a parent almost. Since she was young, he always took the time to toughen her up and made her more confident. He just couldn't give her that praise that she craved. He didn't think it would be right. She nodded again and seemed more determined. "I will! And if it comes down to it...I'll ask you for help, Usaiga." The fox smirked slightly before disappearing into her zanpakutou.

She peaked out of her hiding spot before her ears began twitching again. It just got to sunrise and there were already people fighting? She had to make this quick. She walked about carefully, making sure not to find someone willing to pick a fight even with comrades. She wasn't looking for a fight with them. There was just one person she needed to find. She wasn't going to fight anyone else but him. She glanced around before feeling a hand on her shoulder. She gasped and turned around quickly, a hand already on her zanpakutou's handle. As expected, it was the only one who would touch her in such a friendly manner. "Oh, so prepared to fight already. Don't tell me the others have gotten to you." Gin's grin was ever present on his face. But Kuromi refused to smile and felt pain when she looked at his face. She kept her hand at the ready as she stared at him. He tilted his head before chuckling. "What's wrong? Cat got yer tongue?" He still smiled, but after another round of her glaring at him, he finally frowned. He sighed before shaking his head. "Well ain't this annoying? We never meant for ya to hear that conversation last night, Kuromi-chan. It'd be a great surprise for ya, now wouldn't it?" He asked, though he knew she would just be silent. "Shut up! You're going against the seireitei in a selfish attempt to be on top! I'm not gonna forgive you!" She drew her zanpakutou and pointed it at him.

Now this was a little unsuspected. They had always been good friends since she had joined the 10th Division. Their friendship was a little rocky when she was in the Shin'o Academy, but he didn't think it was all mean and maliciousness. He just teased her and said what he said to make her more determined. But to finally see the day that she would draw her sword against him...that was a day he hoped never came. "Are ya sure ya want to do this, little fox?" He asked as he drew his own and pointed it towards her. She huffed, but never let up her stance. She was very serious about this. "Whatever you say." He sighed and flash-stepped behind her. She blocked his blow with her sword before flash-stepping a good distance from him. "You've gotten better at it, I see." He smiled at her as he praised her development. But she refused to acknowledge it and kept her stance. She knew that if she were to really be a match, she'd need to release her zanpakutou. She took a deep breath before glaring at him. "Allow me your help, Usaiga." Her sword actually grew longer, almost as tall as she was. The blade turned into a jade color with separated segments on the blade. It looked as if it were made out of the precious stone it's colored after. The hilt's leaf vines wrapped over her hand loosely, like a fencing sword's guard. It wouldn't allow her to switch hands, but she didn't need to.

"Oh, so that's what it looks like. Impressive." Gin smiled at her before she dashed towards him. Before she hit him, she flash-stepped out of the way and behind him. He readied to block her attack before looking a bit confused when she disappeared again. She kept doing this, trying to confused him no matter what. "Oh, I get it. You confuse your enemies so you can find a weak spot, then you strike. How clever." He praised again before blocking her final attack. She growled and jumped back from him. He was a taichou and no doubt he would put up a very good fight. "I guess it's my turn then." He pointed his sword at her. "Shoot 'em dead, Shinso." She blinked as his sword actually extended towards her with great speed. She used the blunt side of her sword to get under his blade and lift it up. "Quicker than I thought, too." He chuckled as his sword retracted back.

The two exchanged blows, mostly blocking each others attacks. It was clear than neither wanted to hurt the other. Not to say their clothes weren't getting cut or anything. Kuromi panted slightly as she glared at him. He was fine, not even breaking a sweat. She squeezed the handle of her sword before running towards him. He was a little surprised. She didn't even flash-step away. He lifted his sword and blocked the blow, but she didn't move anywhere else. She pushed against his zanpakutou, which he was also doing, making their weapons locked in a stalemate. She growled as she tried to push against him, but her efforts were useless. "Dammit..." She muttered, making him tilt his head. "Why..." "Why what?" He felt her loosen her grip and actually faltered. "Why did you have to do this...why do you have to be in a Coup with Aizen?" He noticed her voice wavering and finally a little twinkling shine of a tear sliding down her face. "Kuromi..." He sighed before lowering his zanpakutou, making her slump down to her knees. He knelt down in front of her, trying to see her face. "Kuromi-chan, it'll all be clear in due time. But you can still be near me. All you have to do is come with me. I promise you won't get hurt like Momo. Just come with us and I promise it'll be fun. Okay? You'll have a lot more friends and I can even be your personal trainer so you won't suck so much when it comes to fighting." He grinned at her as he patted her head. She raised her head, showing him that she was crying, but looked so tired. "The others...what about Suiren and my friends here?" He sighed and shook his head. "Unfortunately, they can't come. But you'll see them all again soon. So stop yer cryin' and lets go. We need to do something first." He wiped her eyes and helped her up.

Usaiga had long since gone back to sealed form and she sheathed him afterward. She wasn't sure what anyone would think of her now, but she made her decision. She had to protect him...no matter what. She would follow him anywhere and make sure of it.

Suiren rubbed the scar around her neck a little bit as she walked around the barracks. No one was around at all. Where could they all be? She thought a bit before gasping when she realized what could be going on. "Sokuyoku hill! It must've been moved! No wonder Kuromi's missing!" She could only hope that she wasn't doing something stupid to get herself in trouble. Oh if only she knew the decisions her friend has made. She raced outside and towards the sacred hill to witness the execution. But from all the reiatsu she was feeling, there was no way Kuromi would be the only one that thought of saving Rukia. She cussed under her breath before running quicker. She had to get there to make sure that her taichou was okay and not fighting, either. All this chaos around the seireitei could make anyone crazy. "Just hold on..." She muttered before noticing quite a few bankai being released. Her eyes widened at this. Just what in the world was going on!?